Chapter 20: : Chapter 19

“Lyle!” I shout, dropping the curling iron on the bathroom counter in my excitement and rushing off to find him. “Lyle!” My voice echoes through our massive home.

It’s so much space for two people, but it’s not like we could move to just any neighborhood. We needed the security and privacy a place like Oak Manor provides. Plus, I must admit it’s nice having Korie and Raven just a short golf cart ride away. The two have been so welcoming.

Don’t get me wrong, Lyle is amazing, but sometimes you just need a little girl talk. Our budding friendship has done wonders to soften the blow of leaving my best friends behind.

“Hey!” He comes to a skidding halt on the kitchen tile right in front of me, gasping for breath.

My heart starts walloping triple time at the sight of him. He’s shirtless, and there are beads of sweat trickling along the ridges of his abdomen.

.

“What’s wrong?” His voice is fraught with alarm, while I can barely remember my own name.

“Huh?” I lift my gaze to his worried face. It takes a ridiculous amount of effort to fight through this lusty haze and try to remember what I summoned him for.

He snaps twice. “Focus, Li’l Bit.” Then, using the towel slung around his neck, he dabs at his brow while grinning to himself.

“The baby!” I say, reminded when I feel a nudge down below.

“Is something wrong?” His amused expression quickly vanishes.

“No.” I shake my head. “Nothing like that. Put your hand right here.” I press his palm firmly to my growing bump. “Did you feel that?”

He frowns. “I don’t feel anything.”

“You have to push really hard and concentrate.” I grip his first two fingers and dig in there.

“I don’t want to hurt him.” He attempts to pull away, but I tighten my grip. “Or you, for that matter.”

“You won’t. Just be patient.”

I study his face for a reaction. A few nudges go by, and he doesn’t so much as flinch to indicate he noticed. I’m trying not to get frustrated because the books say your partner should be able to feel movement between twenty-one and twenty-four weeks. I’m twenty-three now and so far, nada.

I’m about to throw in the proverbial towel and head back to the room to finish getting ready when his eyes go wide with amazement.

“I’m pretty sure I felt something.” The thrill in his voice brings tears to my eyes.

Hell, everything lately brings freaking tears to my eyes. But this is super special. This man is giving my child a father he or she wouldn’t otherwise have had. And he couldn’t be more involved or genuinely excited about it. Lyle constantly makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the entire world.

I nod and smile, digging his fingers a little deeper in hopes that baby bean will push back.

It works.

“Okay, I know I felt it that time.” His smile is blinding. “Wow…” He starts to poke and prod without my insistence. “He’s really strong.”

“I hope you won’t be too disappointed when it turns out to be a girl.”

“You know me better than that.” He reaches out, attempting to pull me in for a sweaty embrace.

“Uh, I just showered and dried this unruly mane. Keep your stink to yourself, sir.” I bat his arms away half-heartedly.

“Whatever…you love my man stench.” He returns his hand to my stomach. “And I promise, I’ll be happy no matter what. I just really enjoy sparring with you.”

“That’s what I thought.” But hearing him say it helps ease that niggling worry. “I feel the same. I just wish we knew so I could start shopping!”

“I’ll tell ya one thing, if it is a girl, she’s already got the modesty thing down.” He chuckles. “This baby either really enjoys fucking with us already or has a natural inclination to keeping its legs closed.”

“See…” I taunt. “Definitely a girl. There isn’t a male alive that doesn’t like flaunting his peeper.”

My husband bobs his head just slightly, reluctantly agreeing with that assessment. “Yeah…He’s definitely fucking with us.”

“You are so deep in denial.” I rub a hand over my bump, forgetting for a minute that we have somewhere to be. The Booze & Bad Decisions soft opening is in just a few hours. “I need to go finish my hair and makeup.” I slither a finger along his chest through the trails of sweat. “You should probably hop in the shower soon.” I grimace at the wetness, rubbing it between my thumb and pointer finger.

“What’s with the face? You were just looking at me like you wanted to lick every drop from my body.”

I cringe at the thought. “The moment has passed. Now you’re gross.” I poke my tongue out before spinning around and heading back to finish making myself presentable.

He’s hot on my heels. “You’re lucky we don’t have another couple of hours for you to start over on your hair and makeup, cuz I’d show you just how gross I am.”

I think back to the dirty things we did in that grotto last night and my pussy clenches. “I think I have a pretty good idea.” I wink at him through the bathroom mirror while watching him strip off his shorts and underwear.

He sends me a knowing smile when he catches me with my lip clenched between my teeth, my eyes mesmerized by him in all his naked glory.

“Don’t burn your hair, love.” Chuckling he steps into the shower while I quickly unclamp the iron from my locks.

“Your sex appeal is becoming a hazard to my health, Mr. Livingston.”

His answering laughter dies out under the spray of the water.

Lyle and I decide to wear complimenting outfits, because there’s a strong likelihood at least some media will be allowed access to the event in order to start buzz circulating around the opening of the club in two weeks.

A lot of thought goes into ensuring we don’t clash but also don’t look like we’re intentionally twinning. I, for one, am quite impressed with the finished product.

My husband looks scrumdiddlyumptious in a pair of tailored jeans and a red and navy flannel. He leaves it untucked, with the top few buttons open and his signature brown leather jacket over the top. A pair of square toe boots completes the effortless country boy image he’s shooting for.

I opt for a white, tiered minidress, belted just above the belly with brown leather to match my knee-high boots. A coordinating cropped denim jacket completes my outfit. I went full glam with the makeup and styled my hair in big barrel curls because I know how much Lyle loves it when I wear it down.

After adding a pair of large gold hoops to my ears and a few bangles on my wrist, I’m ready to roll “Look at you.” Lyle slowly peruses my body when I step out of the bathroom. “You’re gorgeous.”

“Why, thank you, hunky.” I throw my arms around him, and he buries his lips in the spot between my neck and shoulder. It’s his go-to spot when I’m all made up and drives me absolutely wild. “If you don’t stop that,” I say, squirming in his hold, “we’re gonna be late.”

He releases me from his clutches then slaps a hand to my ass. “Rain check?”

“Of course.” I flutter my sooty lashes before grabbing my purse from the foot of the bed and linking my arm through his. “Let’s go party.”

Frank stops right in front of Booze & Bad Decisions to let us out, handing us off to Reginald before heading around back to park the car. The entrance is roped off, with two beefy bouncers standing guard. It’s all fancy and official.

They’re in the midst of turning a group of women away as we approach.

The sign clearly says, “Soft opening, entry permitted by invitation only.”

Lyle pauses for a minute to check in with his new employees to see how things are going before we continue into the club.

I nearly pee my panties when we walk into a room filled with people shouting and shaking noisemakers. A cascade of black and gold confetti rains down on us from the second-floor balcony. “What’s happening?”

“No, they didn’t.” Laughing, Lyle taps my shoulder and points to the huge banner at the top of the bar that says “Booze + Bad Decisions = Baby.” “This is awesome.”

“We decided to make the soft opening double as you and Lyle’s baby shower.” Raven scampers over in her heels to give me a hug. “Believe it or not, Anika planned the whole thing.”

“Really?” I say, my eyes combing the room until they land on hers. “You would organize my baby shower in a bar!” I shout, feigning offense.

She shrugs and laughs. Our relationship is slowly becoming less strained.

“Yeah,” Aiden says, coming out of the woodwork. “We’re real classy around here, sweet cheeks. Get used to it.”

“Did you know about this?” I twist my head to question my husband while Aiden squeezes the breath out of me.

He shakes his head, smiling ear to ear. “Just as shocked as you are.”

I scan the room, taking in all the faces that have quickly become familiar since moving here. The guys and their wives, of course. Anika. The security team and road crew and their wives. Then my eyes land on my three closest friends standing off to the side, and I do a double take. My heart nearly leaps out of my chest with pure joy.

Abandoning my husband, I run over and say hello. “What are y’all doing here?”

“Anika invited us.” Darci beams.

“We wouldn’t have missed your baby shower for the world.” Margo immediately reaches out to touch the bump. “You’re really starting to pop, chick.”

“Hush,” Lizzie’s chastises. “She looks amazing.”

“I can’t believe you guys are here.” I fan my eyes, trying to dry the mounting tears before they drag mascara down my face. Once I’ve regained my composure, I bring my besties over to meet my new friends.

They instantly hit it off. Even Anika is pleasant. Guess you only get the royal treatment from that one when you’re dating a member of the band.

“What’s your glass say?” I take Darci’s mimosa from her hand, smiling at the inscription. “Poppin’ Bottles” on one side and “Showering baby Livingston” on the other.

“Cute, right?” Korie gushes. “The guys got Koozies that say, ‘There’s a baby brewing.’” She snorts.

“This is too much.” I laugh when I see the boys and Anika engaged in an intense game of “Binkie Pong.” “Who knew alcohol themed baby showers were a thing?”

“If there’s something booze themed, this gang’ll find it, all right,” Lizzie muses.

“What are you looking at?” I ask, following my sister-in-law’s line of sight. “Or should I say who?”

“Oh, my God. Stop staring.” Her cheeks flame.

“You got a thing for Frank, bestie?”

“Shut up.” She elbows me in the arm, tearing her eyes away from where he’s posted near the door.

I throw my hands out in surrender. “Just saying, I could probably arrange a date.”

“Don’t bother.” She sighs.

“Why not? Frank’s great.”

“He is,” she agrees. “But he’s also permanently stationed in Nashville now that the band is, and I’m in California.” She shrugs. “Not really into the whole long-distance thing. I have the kids back home, and my parents would die if I moved them away. It’s just not a good idea to start something that could never go anywhere.”

“Good dick is always a good idea,” Raven offers, listening intently to our conversation. “But remember, ladies.” She points up to the sign above head. “Booze plus bad decisions makes babies.”

“Speaking of,” Nick says, coming up behind his wife, “have another, pretty girl.” He swaps her empty glass out for a fresh mimosa.

“Are you trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me, Mr. Potter?”

“Mmmhmm…” He nibbles along the curve of her neck, giving the damn goosies.

“Woo,” Darci says fanning herself with a stack of napkins. “I don’t know about you,” she says to Raven. “But I think I just got pregnant.”

Margo nods, and holds out her glass. “Hear hear!”

“What are we toasting to?” Ray asks, her glass hovering in the air.

“To you and this fine man here reproducing.” The redheaded minx rolls her tongue.

Nick reaches around his wife forcibly tapping her glass with Margo’s. “We’ll drink to that.”

Raven’s head whips around in his direction. “The hell we will!”

“Testing, testing,” Anika says into the mic, putting an end to the pregnancy negotiations. “At this time, we’d like to call the parents up to open gifts!”

Lyle and I share a smile before walking up and taking the chairs in the center of the stage.

“You can open mine first since it was my idea.” Anika waves a hand at someone backstage. Her enthusiasm surprises the heck out of me.

Reginald comes out with an enormous wicker basket filled with neutral-colored baby items and sets it on the floor in front of us.

“This is so much.” My chest squeezes as my husband and I begin simultaneously holding up items. There are muslin receiving blankets in every shade of white, cream, and tan. A lamb lovie so soft, I can’t help but rub it on my cheek. The most adorable hand knit, stuffed giraffe ever made. Neutral sleepers and bibs and burp cloths. And… “Bows?”

Annie shrugs. “Just in case…if not you can hold on to them for the next one.” She winks.

, I mouth before continuing. Beneath all the cloth items are bath products, and diaper creams, pacifier holders, and books galore.

“Oh my gosh.” I take the box of Kleenex Darci runs up to deliver and begin sopping up my tears. “Thank you so much, Anika.”

“You’re welcome.” One of those rare but radiant smiles graces her face. “Just be warned—I don’t do diapers or throw up. Or crying!” She cringes. “I just like looking at them and dressing ’em up.”

I snort. “Noted.”

“She’s not kidding,” Korie says, racing to the stage so she can be next. She stands there waiting eagerly while I rip the paper off. “The Baby Rocker LEVO is a must!” She starts pointing out all the features on the fancy baby seat. “Hadley napped in this thing for months!”

“Thanks so much, Kor.”

She gives me a hug then exits stage left.

One after another, our friends come up bearing gifts for our little one. An Ergobaby carrier, more blankets, and so many diapers. Teethers, including an enormous rubber giraffe called Sophie that’s apparently all the rage. A handmade wood rocking horse that will match perfectly with the neutral tones of our nursery.

“Who did this?” I ask when I open a NoseFrida Snotsucker without a card.

Darci’s maniacal laughter instantly gives her away.

“I will not be sucking baby bean’s boogers through a tube. Thankyouverymuch.”

“What in the redneck…” Lyle snatches the box from my hand and literally starts gagging before he finishes reading the back. “Darci…” He shakes his head. “You’re wrong for that.”

Just as my husband and I stand to give our heartfelt thank you speech to the group as a whole, Aiden comes running up with a gift bag. He hands it over to Lyle, bringing a hand to his chest, huffing for breath. “Saved the best for last.”

Lyle reaches in the bag and pulls out a book. “The Pregnancy Kama Sutra,” he reads, then jumps up and gives his buddy a one-armed man-hug-back-slap. “Bro, I can always count on you to put my needs first.”

“From your former wingman.” Aiden beats a fist to his chest. “I gotchu!”

“Let me see that.” I snatch it out of my husband’s hand, flipping through a few pages. “This is…ummm…explicit.”

“I expect a full report on each position.” Aiden wags a bossy finger at me.

I scoff. “There’s no way we’re trying all of these.”

“How ’bout a little wager?” Lyle has that look on his face that clearly says he’s up to no good.

“I’m listening…”

“If the baby turns out to be a boy, I can pick any position from that book, and you can’t say no.” He raises his brows. “If it’s a girl, the choice is yours.”

“Bet,” I say holding out my hand to shake on it.

“Ooo, hoo, hoo, hooo,” my husband sings, reaching back. “Better start prepping that no-no hole now, love.”

“Funny you should mention that.” Aiden hands Lyle another gift bag. “It’s cock rings and butt plugs and such.”